North Carolina Climate
NOAA/National Weather Service Raleigh, NC North Carolina Climate Phillip Badgett NWS Raleigh, NC National Weather Service North Carolina Topographic Map
National Weather Service North Carolinas Unique Topography and Geography
The Appalachian Mountains the proximity to the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream all have a profound affect on North Carolinas Climate. Elevations range from sea level to 6684 feet at Mt. Mitchell. Geographic regions include the Mountains Foothills Piedmont Sandhills Coastal Plain Coastal Area and Outer Banks. National Weather Service Factors that Influence North Carolinas Climate
Mountains and moisture sources (Gulf and Atlantic) play major roles in Cold Air Damming (CAD) and Thermal Moisture Boundary (TMB) formation and resultant severe weather and winter weather climatology. Tornado outbreaks are often tied to location of TMB. (March 1984, November 1988, November 2008 just a few examples). Mountains can disrupt or weaken tornado outbreaks in Tennessee Valley from affecting our Piedmont (April 3-4, 1974 event). Mesoscale Convective System (MCS) crossing mountains (often break up crossing the mountains but can re-intensify east of mountains. (RNK study). CAD results when cold stable air arriving from the northeast is dammed up along the mountains. National Weather Service Factors that Influence North Carolinas Climate
CAD (profound affect on North Carolinas Climate often enhancing winter storms severe weather near TMB along CAD periphery to the east and south and enhancing or reducing QPF. National Weather Service TMB Severe Weather 3/28/1984 March 1984 Tornadoes Cold Air Damming National Weather Service CAD with Ice Storm Dec. 2002 Ice Accrual December 2002 North Carolinas Annual Precipitation
National Weather Service North Carolinas Annual Precipitation
Wettest weather station in North Carolina 91.72 Inches (Annual Average) Lake Toxaway, Transylvania County Driest weather station in North Carolina 37.32 Inches Asheville (downtown), Buncombe County National Weather Service North Carolinas Annual Precipitation
Wettest calendar year for any station Inches (1924), Rosman, Transylvania County Driest calendar year for any station 22.69 Inches (1930), Mount Airy, Surry County National Weather Service North Carolinas Precipitation Influences
Primary storm tracks, CAD, and TMB/Coastal Fronts (cool season). Tropical cyclone tracks and low level boundaries (warm season). Piedmont trough position (enhances summer pulse storms and resultant QPF and pulse severe). (Reference Tony Ray study). Sandhills enhanced summer rainfall due to differential heating of sandy soil versus other soil types surrounding the region. (SCO study). National Weather Service North Carolinas Annual Temperature
National Weather Service North Carolinas Annual Temperature
Warmest weather station in North Carolina 63.8 degrees Wilmington, New Hanover County Coldest weather station in North Carolina (where people actually live) 48.8 degrees Banner Elk, Avery County degrees Mount Mitchell, Yancey County National Weather Service North Carolinas Annual Temperature
Lowest temperature on record was 34 below at Mount Mitchell (January 21, 1985). Raleigh was 9 degrees below zero on that same date for lowest all time in the Raleigh area. Highest temperature on record was 110 degrees at Fayetteville (August 21, 1983) Raleigh was 101 degrees that same day. National Weather Service Winter Weather Climatology
Winter weather season typically runs between December and March. Predominate snow events are most common over the northwest with least occurrences along the coast. Freezing rain is most often predominate over the Northern Piedmont Damming Region (due to CAD). Sleet is rarely the predominate winter storm precipitation type (it is typically found with transition zones of precipitation). National Weather Service North Carolinas Annual Average Snowfall
National Weather Service North Carolinas Number of Days with Snow and Sleet Accumulation
National Weather Service North Carolinas Number of Events per Year with Sleet and Freezing Rain
National Weather Service A Typical Strong Winter Storm with Cold Air Damming
National Weather Service Severe Weather Climatology
Three Distinctive Severe Weather Seasons Primary (late February through May) Pulse Severe (June through August) Secondary (October and November) National Weather Service Tornado Track (EF3 and Greater Since 1950)
National Weather Service Monthly Distribution of Tornadoes for the Raleigh CWA
National Weather Service Monthly Distribution of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Events for the Raleigh CWA
National Weather Service Hourly Frequency of Severe Thunderstorm Wind Events for the Raleigh CWA
National Weather Service Monthly Distribution of Severe Thunderstorm Hail Events for the Raleigh CWA
National Weather Service Hourly Frequency of Severe Thunderstorm Hail Events for the Raleigh CWA
National Weather Service Flash Flood Climatology
National Weather Service River Flood Climatology
National Weather Service All Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service June Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service July Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service August Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service September Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service October Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service November Hurricanes Affecting North Carolina 1851-2008
National Weather Service Record Tropical Season 2004 Tropical Cyclone Tracks that Produced Tornadoes over RAH CWA (1950 through 2008) Credits North Carolina State Climate Office
Southeastern River Forecast Center National Climatic Data Center Brandon Dunstan Jonathan Blaes, Darin Figurskey, Ryan Ellis, Brandon Locklear, Mike Moneypenny, Barrett Smith - (NWS RAH). National Weather Service